Chicago’s got a grand tradition of BYOB restaurants: Spots that don’t sell liquor often allow customers to bring in their own wine or beer to accompany the meal.
2728 W Armitage Ave (at California Ave.), Chicago, IL
French Restaurant · Logan Square · 13 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: The menu changes according to the chef’s whim: rhubarb with tea-smoked baby octopus or eggplant Parmesan with tempura fried cheese curds and strawberry marinara. Take advantage of the back patio.
3404 N Halsted St (btwn Roscoe St. & Newport Ave.), Chicago, IL
American Restaurant · Lakeview · 35 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: The ever-changing menu might include a creamy mushroom soup with lavender and thyme; Amsterdam-style mushrooms in a beer broth; or spiced lamb pie alongside almond-garlic mashed potatoes.
2211 W North Ave (btwn Leavitt St. & Bell Ave.), Chicago, IL
Breakfast Spot · Bucktown · 99 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: A brunch plate of smoked salmon features creamy Zingerman’s goat cheese and lamb is sliced onto a baguette. Try the turkey burger with chipotle-sage aioli and a salmon burger with pickled ginger.
Noodle Restaurant · Fulton Market · 92 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: The food is made up of cheap, Asian basics like dumplings and ramen noodles. But the dumplings are filled with lamb and brandy and the ramen tossed with braised pork belly and king oyster mushrooms.
2045 N Damen Ave (btwn Dickens & McLean), Chicago, IL
Sushi Restaurant · Bucktown · 78 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Ceviche maki pairs lime-marinated scallop with mango, cilantro and jalapeño, and salmon gets stuffed in a spring roll, fried and served with green curry dipping sauce.
1011 W Irving Park Rd (at W Dakin St), Chicago, IL
Thai Restaurant · Lakeview · 56 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Try ground chicken with basil and preserved eggs. Also try the specials board; promising rotations have included lettuce wrap–ready deep-fried mackerel with apples, cucumbers, fish sauce and chiles.
1477 W Balmoral Ave (btw Clark & Glenwood), Chicago, IL
Pizzeria · Andersonville · 37 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: The menu consists of only three pizza and the owner makes each individually- with puffy, chewy crust; house-pulled mozzarella; layers of fresh, earthy mushrooms; and an obsessive eye for detail.
Italian Restaurant · Roscoe Village · 3 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Ripiene are delicate and delectable; pan-fried polenta is a luscious base for bitter rapini and sweet onions; and roasted chicken is plump and juicy inside, salty and crispy on the outside.
BBQ Joint · Old Irving Park · 232 tips and reviews
Time Out Chicago: Spareribs are pull-apart tender with a subtle smokiness. The Brisket is beautifully marbled beef is given just the right treatment to yield tender bite after tender bite, whether chopped or sliced.